Capseal



Feb. 24, 1953 M. J. QUILLINAN CAPSEAL Filed July 1. 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE CAPSEAL Michael J.Quillinan, Bronx, N. Y.

Application July 1, 1950, Serial No. 171,697

The present invention relates to capseals used in sealing containersand, in particular, to a new and improved method of sealing containerwall openings no matter what the material thereof may consist.

Briefly, the capseal referred to consists of a fiat disc-like bottom anda cylindrical wall portion. Located about the wall portion are a numberof slots or gaps whereat the continuity of the wall portion isinterrupted. Tearing ears protrude laterally outward through theaforementioned slots from the capseal bottom portion. On the under faceof the capseal may optionally be located a gasket depending upon thesealing function to which the capseal may be put, as will hereinafter beelaborated upon. By tucking the capseals wall portion within theconfines of a curled recessed annulus with the operable portions of anappropriate sealing tool, there is a resulting downward displacement ofthe capseal, and of the capseal gasket where provided, upon a capsealreceiving seat. Ready removal of the capseal is facilitated by grippingthe above mentioned tearing ears and cleaving the fixedly retainedcapseal along an area of localized frangibility.

Depending upon the varied uses of capseals, they should, in addition tosuperior sealing qualities, combine the desirable features of strengthand durability with facility of removal. Oftentimes, it becomesdifiicult to secure such capseals in place upon the container openingwith a minimum of operational force without compromising theabove-mentioned desirable features. Furthermore, the means used inholding the capseal in sealing relation with its respective closure areweakened as regards their apparent advantages when the features ofnonaccess and ease of removal must also be incorporated into the samecapseal design. Finally, in addition to the above elements dictatingcapseal design, features of capseal economy require that the materialthereof be of the lightest possible gauge without imperiling sealingintegrity.

This latter feature becomes even more critical when it is desired tocombine the features of frangibility and economy of capseal designwithout imperiling capseal strength and durability.

5 Claims. (01. 220-27) universally practicable means of cleaving thecapseal in an area of localized frangibility.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide acapseal that is strong and durable and readily removable despite a 2 yetpossesses securing means that allow a minimum of operational force insecuring the capseal in sealing position on the closure Another objectof the invention is to provide a permanent capseal, both strong anddurable, having mutatable wall portions that secure the capseal rigidlyin place within the confines of the closure opening with a minimum ofoperational force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capseal with securingmeans which furnish a high degree of capseal gasket compression andcapseal permanence with a minimum of sealing force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capseal that isstructurally eflicient in sealing a closure and unequivocally showsevidences of unauthorized attempts at access to the contents of thecontainer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical capseal thatpermanently seals a container closure opening within the confines of thesame, thus using the structural qualities of the closure to guardagainst untoward blows directed at the capseal and still provides simpleand effective means for capseal removal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an economicalcapseal which, though strong and durable, is cleavable with a minimum offorce on an area of localized frangibility.

Other objects and desirable features will be obvious and separatelyaccomplished by referral to the accompanying description and drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the capseal.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the capseal shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a capseal section taken along line 3-3.

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of a section showing the capseal secured inplace within the confines of a typically adaptable closure opening.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the capseal inverted without a gasketattached thereto.

'Referring now to the figures it will be seen that the capseal consistsof a substantially fiat planal bottom portion is surrounded by andintegral with cylindrical wall portions ll and [2 which extendsubstantially upward from the bottom portion Ill. Extending laterallyout from the wall portions H and I2 are tearing ears I3 and [4 whichproject from the bottom portion l0 through the gaps resulting from thelack of continuity of the capseal wall portion.

The tearing ears I3 and M are preferably diametrically opposed. Theirlateral straight sides join the bottom portion preferably perpendicularto the outer cylindrical surfaces of the wall portions I l and 12, aswell as at the points where the sides of these latter portionsterminate, to form a slot or gap in the capseals cylindrical wall. Ex-

tending across these points of joinder of the tearing ears I3 and I4with the capseals body portion are scored lines of weakness I5 and I6induced in either the upper or lower face of the bottom portion IE. Thelines of weakness I5 and IS are induced in either the upper or lowerface of the bottom portion I0. The lines of weakness are preferablyinduced by reducing the thickness of the bottom portion along the scoredline 15 and I 5.

Thus it will be seen that the tearing ears I3 and I4 together with thearea of the bottom portion I8 within the limits of the scored lines I5and It describe what is preferably desired in the invention, viz., acontinuous diametric tearing strip II integral with the body portion ofthe capseal.

As the uses of the capseal dictate, as will be elaborated uponhereinafter, the capseal may or may not be provided with a capsealgasket I8. Where used, the gasket is gummed or lacquered to the underface of the capseals bottom portion Iii. Depending primarily upon thegasket seat provided in the closure opening, the gasket will occupy aposition on the capseal substantially approaching in diameter that ofthe capseals body portion.

The capseal is secured within the confines of a closure opening whosestructural characteristics are best typified by referring to Fig. 4.

The throat area generally shown as I9 has a cylindrical neck portion 29from which extends an annularly recessed curled free-end portion 2| anda substantially fiat seat portion 22 perpendicular to the axis of thethroat I9 and below the free-end portion 2I. The diameter of the curledportion 2| is substantially greater than that of the throat I9 allowinga substantial area whereon the gasket I8 may be compressed. The diameter0f the wall portions I I and I2 approach that of the clear diametricdistance between the inner edges of the curled free end portion 2I ofthe closure.

To allow the tearing ears I3 and I4 to pass freely through the confinesof the closures free end portion IS, the latter is slotted as at 23 and24 providing a gap. The lower faces 25 and 26 of the gap are preferablylocated above the seat portion 22. The gaps thus described by theslotted sides of the curled free end portion 2| and the lower faces 25and 25 have a width comparable to that of the tearing ears I3 and I4,such that the gap faces as at 23 and 2 3 line up substantially with thesides of the capseals wall portion across the closure opening. Thus itwill be seen that the gaps of the capseals side wall portions and thegaps of the closures free end portion are comparably dimensioned andadjacently located.

The capseal material may consist of light gauge metal or terne or acombination of laminated surfaces which combine to provide a capsealmaterial that is both rigid and frangible.

The capseal is affixed to the closure opening by the operable portionsof a sealing tool which coact to apply outward and downward pressure tothe wall portions II and I2, and the bottom portion if? of the capseal,respectively. As the sealing operation progresses it will be seen that asubstantial amount of the outward displacement of the wall portions I Iand I2 by reason of the outward operating pressure, results in a camaction wherein wall portions of the capseal follow the path described bythe inner surface of the annular recessed curled free end portion 2I.

Thus there is a resulting downward displacement of the capseal bodythereby compressing the gasket I8 against the seat of the closure 22.This sealing action is terminated by a compressing of the capseals wallportions II and I2, against the inner surface of the annulus of thecurled free end portion 2|. Thus the gasket I8 is held fixedly incompressed position against the closure seat 22 and the wall portions II and I2 are *contiguously afiixed within the closure opening with ahigh degree of permanence resulting from the bowed rigidity of thecapseal material.

It will be noted that the wall portions II and I2 occupy less than onehalf each of the perimetric distance of the capseal. It requires asmaller amount of operating force to mutate such an apportionment of thecapseal area than if the capseal wall portion were continuous, Thus byusing a sufficiently rigid capseal material the capseal will possessqualities of permanence and yet be readily secured in place with lowoperational force. To remove the capseal and virtually destroy the same,one of the tearing ears may be gripped and pulled upward. Since the wallportions of the capseal are fixedly secured within the confines of theclosure opening, the capseal material must cleave or shear along thescored lines of weakness I5 and I6, to form the tearing strip H. Thetearing action may be continued across the capseal halving it. Thehalved portions then fall freely away from their retained positionwithin the confines of the closure.

It will be seen that tearing action is localized since the shearing orcleaving action in removing the capseal is restricted to the tearingstrip. By scoring the capseal along certain lines of weakness thetearing force is further localized to that weakened area. Finally, bylocatin the termini of the scored lines adjacent to the points where thesides of the capseal wall, rigidly retained within the closure openingsfree end portion, meet the points of joinder with the tearing ears,cleavage along the scored lines is further assured. Thus there is a highdegree of stress concentration at weakened areas which results in areadily removable capseal.

A gasket I8 is used where the capseal serves to either directly orindirectly seal the contents of the container from leakage as well asunauthorized access. However, some users of the capseal may choose touse the capseal without a gasket, as shown in Fig. 5, thus employing thecapseal only to prevent undetected tampering with the containerscontents. It will be seen that the wall portions II and I2 of thecapseal, by reason of their contiguous relationship with the innersurface of the free end portion 2I of the closure opening, as well asthe rigidity of the capseal material, are completely free fromundetected tampering. Attempts at prying beneath the free edges of thecapseals wall portion II and I2, or of piercing the bottom portion I0,or of cleaving the tearing strip by use of the tearing ears I3 and I4ofier unmistakable evidences of tampering.

Thus I have accomplished the objects of my invention. It is to beunderstood that the features of capseal design elaborated herein may beseparately accomplished in other capseals for sealing a variety ofclosure openings and therefore I do not wish to be limited in the scopeof my invention to the particular modification set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a capseal and closure opening in combination, the capsealcomprising a substantially flat bottom portion and a wall portionextending upward from the periphery of the bottom portion a substantialdistance and connecting therewith, a tearing strip formed in the bottom1301- tion by lines of Weakness induced therein, the lines terminatingon at least one peripheral edge of the bottom portion, the continuity ofthe wall portion in at least one area interrupted at least one tearingear extending outward from the tearing strip, the closure openingcomprising a neck, a seat portion connecting with the neck and directedoutwardly therefrom, the periphery of the capseals bottom portionreceived on the seat portion, a free end extending upward from andconnecting with the seat portion at the outer region thereof, andcurling inwardly upon itself, the free end interrupted. at pointsopposed to the capseals tearing ear and defining a in the free endcomplementary to the tearing ear, the capseals Wall portion residingsubstantially within and along the curl of the free end, the capsealslines of weakness terminating substantially at the interrupted sides ofthe free end portion.

2. In a capseal and closure opening in combination, the capsealcomprising a substantially flat bottom portion and a wall portionextending upward from the periphery of the bottom portion a substantialdistance and connecting therewith, a tearing strip formed in the bottompor tion by lines of weakness induced therein, the lines terminating onat least one peripheral edge of the bottom portion, the continuity ofthe wall portion in at least one area interrupted by at least onetearing ear extending outward from the tearing strip, the closureopening receiving the capseal in sealing relation through a gasketseated around the under side or" the bottom portion, the closure openingcomprising a neck, a seat portion connecting with the neck, directedoutwardly therefrom, and receiving the gasket, a free end extendingupwardly from and connecting with the seat portion at the outer regionthereof and curling inwardly upon itself, the free end interrupted atpoints opposed to the capseals tearing ear and defining a gap in thefree end complementary to the tearing ear, the capseals wall portionresiding substantially within and along the curl of the free end, thecapseals lines of weakness terminating substantially at the interruptedsides oi the free end portion.

3. In a capseal and closure opening the combination of a capsealcomprising a "flat bottom portion and a substantially arcuate wallportion, the wall portion connecting with and extending upward from thebottom portion a substantial distance, a tearing strip formed in thebottom portion by lines of weakness induced in the bottom portion, thelines terminating at the periphcry of the bottom portion, the continuityof the Wall portion interrupted by at least one tearing ear extendingoutward from the bottom portion at a terminal of the tearing strip, theclosure opening comprising a neck, a seat portion connecting with theneck, directed outwardly there from, the periphery of the capsealsbottom portion received on the seat portion, a free end extendingupwardly from and connecting with the seat portion at the outer regionsthereof, the free end being in gripping relation with respect to thecapseals wall, the free end interrupted at points opposed to thecapseals tearing ear and defining a gap in the free end complementary tothe tearing ear, portions of the capseals wall portion residingsubstantially within the free end, the capseals lines of weaknessterminating substantially at the interrupted sides of the free endportion.

4. In a capseal and closure opening, the combination of a capsealcomprising a ilat bottom portion and a substantially cylindrical wallportion, the wall portion integral with and extending upward from thebottom portion at its periphery a substantial distance, a tearing stripformed in the bottom portionby lines of weaia ness induced therein, thelines terminating on at least one peripheral edge of the bottom portionand in the plane thereof, the continuity of the wall portion in at leastone area interrupted by at least one tearing ear extending outward fromthe terminal of the tearing strip, the closure opening receiving thecapseal in sealing relation through a gasket seated around the underside of the bottom portion, the closure opening comprising a neck, aseat portion connecting with the neck, directed outwardly therefrom, andreceiving the gasket, an annular free end extending upwardly from andconnecting with the seat portion at the outer region thereof, the freeend interrupted at points opposed to the capseals tearing ear anddefining a corresponding gap for the tearing ear, the gap eingcomplementary with the lateral sides of the tearing ear, the capsealsWall portion residing in gripped position substantially within andaround the free end, the capseals lines of Weakness terminatingsubstantially at the interrupted sides of the free end portion.

5. A capseal adapted to seal a closure of a yes sel comprising a fiatbottom portion having at least one tearing ear at the peripheral edge ofsaid bottom portion, and a pair of scored lines terminating on said edgeat the points of joinder of said edge with the edges of said tearing awall portion extending upwardly from said bottom portion commencing atsaid points of joinde'r, a gasket fixedly attached to the under face ofsaid bottom portion and extending therearound, whereby said ear forms animmediately adjacent continuation of said bottom portion and a gap isdefined in said wall portion wherethrough said car may pass, therebypermitting a mouth of said vessel to receive said wall portiontherewithin in gripping relation and permitting said tearing ear to passfrom within said vessel through the wall thereof.

IMICHAEL J. QUILLINAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 625,055 Painter May 16, 18991,058,640 Stenius Apr. 8, 1913 1,359,731 Nowack Nov. 23, 1920 1,805,003Newman May 12, 1931 1,845,078 Draper et a1 Feb. 16, 1932 1,982,145Shera- Nov. 2'7, 1934 2,056,043 Fausek et a1 Sept. 29, 1936 2,147,325Wackman Feb. 14, 1939 2,214,399 Benson Sept. 10, 1940 2,299,281 Samplect. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 162,316 SwitzerlandAug. 16, 1933

